Illusion has triumphed. And so has Michael Graham, who gives life, at least momentarily, to a most improbable cast of characters. The New York Daily News
The Spring Valley Puppet Theater has been performing for schools and libraries throughout New England for over 30 years.
Each performance combines delightfully original scripts, appealing characters, beautifully hand-crafted hand and rod puppets, lighting, music and humor. The result is highly entertaining puppet theater.
A highlight of each library program is an informative and exciting behind-the-scenes look at the technique and artistry used in puppet theater, including a demonstration of favorite characters.
In most school assembly performances, the front curtain is removed and students are invited to explore the art of puppetry through an insightful and absorbing question and answer period.
A wonderful educational experience!
Productions include Jack and the Beanstalk (1994 UNIMA Award recipient.) The Three Wishes, The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, The Lazy Fox/ El Zorro Perezoso (bilingual,) Puss in Boots, A Holiday Fantasy.
All shows play to a maximum audience of 350.
Recommended for ages 5 and up / K thru 6th grade.
Prices range from $335 to $400 plus travel.
Please call for pricing information.

Music and customs of a traditional Christmas of Dickens' time included jovial and ceremonial songs with choruses for all to share, ballads steeped history, costumed characters or 'guisers,' tableaux and games, dances, and the presence of holly, ivy, and evergreen. This musical voyage back to the spirit of Christmas Past offers a magical time for family and friends to gather and share the origins of our traditions.
Across England, wealthy households would celebrate with great musical feasts and pageants, and folks would go from door to door, singing wassailing songs that ended with the request for 'a toast and a good loaf or cheese, and we’ll be on our way.' Featured will be wassail songs from Cornwall, Somerset, and Gloucestershire. Other traditions will include a special processional bagpipe air from Northumberland to 'pipe your bounds' to insure abundance and well being throughout the new year.
This peek behind the history of Christmas celebration uncovers the universal within the season's mirth and merriment, and plants the seeds of ideas for reestablishing some of the old traditional elements for community celebrations - further enriching the meaning and majesty of this important holiday season.

Understanding the Depression Era through Songs and their Stories
The essence of the Great Depression as expressed in the songs of the times with stories that provide the social, economic, and historical context.
Forget Your Troubles and Just Get Happy – The 1929 Hit Song by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler
Presidential Campaign Songs of 1932 – The Sidewalks of New York vs. Happy Days are Here Again
The Anthem of the Great Depression – Brother Can You Spare a Dime by Jay Gorney and E. Y. Harburg, 1932
If Only it Was True – The Gold Diggers’ Song of 1933/ We’re in the Money by Harry Warren and Al Dubin
If God Blessed America For Me – The success of Irving Berlin’s God Bless America in 1938 led Woody Guthrie to write a parody
When All the World is a Hopeless Jumble – Even Lady Gaga sings this 1939 song by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, the most influential song in the history of cinema (according to a 2018 study)

Celebrating Building a better world: What's way up there on the top of that gleaming new skyscraper? that surprising fringe of green that overlooks the hustle and bustle of the busy city below? It's an old fashioned farm, tended by Hank Bluejeans, whose family has grown fruits and vegetables season after season, as far back as anyone can remember. Well, it wasn't always so way up high. How did it get there? And why? This is a story about embracing the future while cherishing the past - or roots, as Hank Blujeans might say.

Bob Conrad takes your students on a magical Safari to the Rain Forests of the world. Using magic, ventriloquism and large visual props Bob Conrad teaches your students :
* Where the Rain Forest
are. * What they are.
* Why they are important.
* Why we must save them.
* The four levels of the Rain Forest
* The animals that live there.
This interactive educational program will leave your audience with a far greater understanding of the Rain Forest. Bob Conrad is the author/illustrator of Bob Conrad's Rainforest Animals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNY9qdX_FVk

What is a Cabin Fever Family Concert?
If you've been to a Chip Richter Family Concert before you know they are interactive, entertaining and inspiring for kids, parents and even grandparents. It truly is an all age event designed to be something children and adults will enjoy together. In the middle of the cold, snowy, dark days of winter what could be more welcome than a warm and cozy night of music and melody, love and laughter shared with the whole family? Chip's Cabin Fever Concert can be just the thing to get us through to spring. It's a wonderful community outreach event that will entertain, inspire, educate and just be plain fun.

I Wanna Be Healthy! Is a high energy interactive music show that gets kids up on their feet to move and encourages a healthy lifestyle. Meet Zachary, a Muppet-style puppet who is 8 years old and loves to dance and Simon the Sloth a 6 year old Three Toed Sloth that dreams of running in a race!

Join Lee to celebrate the holidays in this multi-cultural dance party. Lee brings props, puppets and instruments and engages children and their families in singing and dancing to her fully orchestrated music. Children will dance with hats and giant candy canes, families will catch huge streaming snow flakes, jingle bells and maracas and more! It's a Winter Wonderland of a show!

* Inclusion in this database does not indicate endorsement of any performer
or program by the NYS Education Department, the Office of Cultural Education, the NYS Library or the participating
library systems, nor does it eliminate the need for reference checks and appropriate standard screening procedures.